The Mystery Of House 12

When a chart is calculated using the date, time and place of birth (or any other event)it is divided into 12 sections which overlap the 12 signs of the zodiac. These sections are called 'houses' and each one corresponds to a particular area of life. Arguably, the most misunderstood section of all is House 12.

The 12th House precedes the Ascendant which is the starting point of the entire chart and the beginning of House One. Therefore, House 12 symbolises endings. Many people find the 12th house frightening, probably because they are only familiar with its negative traits such as confusion, deception, illusion, loss, etc. But this is only part of the story. As any professional astrologer knows, the 12th House is quite possibly the most fascinating of all.

Let's start with the more familiar and somewhat negative House 12 associations. Imprisonment, solitude, mysticism. When I was a student, House 12 was described as "The house of one's self-undoing" which inferred that the potential misfortune in this area of the chart was brought about to some extent by your own bad behaviour or landing yourself in trouble because of your own gullibility. Hence its connection to imprisonment. And of course, House 12 is the house of Karma - but there's good karma and bad karma. It's about getting what you deserve. 

However, the 12th House symbolises so many positive attributes. First and foremost, this is the house of preparation and potential. Everything associated with the 12th is about preparing for a major new beginning. It's about what happens before something starts, before it becomes a physical reality, before it officially begins. The rehearsal period. 

Metamorphosis is another phenomenon associated with the 12th House. A prime  example is pregnancy. As the house of incubation, the 12th represents the final trimester of a pregnancy - the last stage in the process before the baby is born. It's those last moments before all is revealed for the first time. It's standing on a stage before the curtain goes up on the first night of a performance, the chrysalis before the butterfly emerges, the bud before the flower blooms. The seed beneath the soil before its shoots burst through the earth to announce the arrival of Spring. 

House 12 is also associated with beauty in all its forms: love, romance, art, music, photography, dance, poetry. Is it any wonder that Venus is the exalted ruler of this house? So many astrologers claim that any natal planet in the 12th is "unfortunate". Not true! House 12 is where fantasy runs wild - there are no boundaries in this house!

House 12 in its mystical sense is the house of surrealism - or 'unreality' as it's sometimes called. It's about everything that's intangible, vague, abstract, invisibile, anything that's hidden, concealed or camouflaged. Things which are semi-transparent are ruled by this house too - fog, mist, smoke, veils, two-way mirrors. Particles, atoms, molecules, the pieces of something that make up the whole. Or something which has been reduced to powder. An example of this is sand - solid rock fragmented into billions of tiny pieces.

The 12th House: Imagination, inspiration, endless fascination and dreams waiting to become reality. Mystery solved.

November Lunar Eclipse

The Lunar Eclipse on 8th November 2022 at 16° Taurus, just like the recent Solar Eclipse, will have a major impact on various countries, including Ukraine's Pluto and Russia’s Sun, Mercury and Saturn - both in Scorpio - as well as China's Saturn. The UK's Venus will also take a hit just as it did from the Mars Uranus North Node stellium back in August. This eclipsed Moon will be conjunct transiting Uranus, so expect things to become chaotic.Or, should I say, more chaotic.

Interestingly, it will trigger Boris Johnson's natal Jupiter Neptune opposition. In President Zelenskyy's chart it will conjunct his natal Uranus and square his Moon and Midheaven. In Putin's chart, the Lunar Eclipse will square his Nodal Axis.

There will be more eclipse effects for the British Monarchy too, as the Lunar Eclipse will square King Charles' natal Pluto (ruler of his 4th house) and Ceres. This influence will bring the need to take more control within the family circle. I feel he may need to take more time away in order to process his feelings of loss, during which he could decide to mediate a compromise, before returning to his service with renewed commitment after letting go of certain situations. 

The Lunar Eclipse will oppose Prince Harry's Scorpio Midheaven bringing major changes associated with his public image and professional profile. Dashed hopes could result in a loss of position or status, and a struggle to achieve his goals. Adverse publicity will affect his popularity. He may also experience conflict between his domestic and professional life.

This Lunar Eclipse has a very interesting connection to Lady Louise - daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. She was born on 8th November 2003 which was the day before an identical Lunar Eclipse to this one at 16° Taurus. As eclipse cycles repeat approximately every 19 years, this will be her first birthday eclipse since she was born. The next one will occur close to her birthday in 2040 but not actually on it, so this Lunar Eclipse is very significant and indicates a dramatic change in her life during the next 12 months. Wonderful opportunities lie ahead.

In conjunction to Catherine, Princess of Wales' natal Chiron, the Lunar Eclipse could bring a period of personal crisis and a life-changing decision will be made during the next six months. As the eclipse is also in a square aspect to her natal Ascendant, this could involve her personal appearance, her name (or title), domestic environment, or her outlook and attitude.